They wore little white caps, called themselves "the common man," fasted for days and shouted slogans against politicians during massive anti-corruption demonstrations two years ago.
Now many of those activists are getting ready to roll up their sleeves and dive into what they have vilified as the cesspool of Indian politics.
The anti-corruption uprising that shook the nation in 2011 was India's version of the Occupy Wall Street movement and the Arab Spring rolled into one. But unlike those in other protest movements fueled by middle-class anger, including the recent unrest in Turkey and Brazil, India's protesters say they cannot remain angry outsiders.